Cornell announced Sept. 22 that the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Education has closed its investigation of a complaint alleging that the University maintains racially- and ethnically-segregated residence halls.

No violation of applicable civil rights laws and regulations was established.

The complaint was brought by Michael Meyers, executive director of a New York City - based organization named the New York Civil Rights Coalition.

In a Sept. 20 letter to Cornell President Hunter Rawlings, OCR Chief Program Officer Rolando Alvarado informed the University that the agency did not find sufficient evidence to support a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its implementing regulations with respect to Ujamaa Residential College and the Latino Living Center's purpose and selection procedures.

Vice President for Student and Academic Services Susan H. Murphy expressed the University's pleasure with the OCR decision.

"Cornell has maintained throughout these proceedings that its program houses were not in violation of any federal or state statute or regulation," Murphy said. "We are delighted that the Office of Civil Rights has brought this case to conclusion. Ujamaa Residential College has a long track record, while the Latino Living Center is a new residential unit. Both units, and indeed all of Cornell's 10 program houses, contribute to the intellectual, cultural and social diversity of the entire campus, and we look forward to their continued service to the university community in the future.

"Cornell has consistently maintained that all Cornell students, without respect to national origin, race, religion or ethnicity, are welcome to be residents of and to participate in the programs and activities of its program houses," Murphy added. "Our resolution agreement with OCR reiterates this long-standing University policy."

As part of the resolution of this complaint, Cornell has entered into a conciliation agreement with OCR in which the University assures OCR that the Latino Living Center "will not make distinctions on the basis of national origin when recruiting students for Center residence and/or Center activities." Copies of advertising materials distributed by the Center during the fall and spring semesters of the 1996-97 academic year and a list of recruitment activities during the same period will be provided to OCR. The Latino Living Center, which began operation in the 1994-95 academic year, is the most recently established of the University's ten program houses.

Meyers had earlier filed a similar complaint with the New York State Department of Education in 1994; that complaint was dismissed by former State Education Commissioner Thomas R. Sobol on June 28, 1995.